Carton closure



R. M. DUNNING CARTON CLOSURE June 17, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1953 INVENTOR June 17, 1958 DUNNING 2,839,236

CARTON CLOSURE Filed Oct. 14, 1953 2 Sheets$heet 2 l I INVENTOR United States atent O CARTON CLOSURE Robert M. Dunning, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Co., Ramsey County, Minn, a corporation Application October 14, 1953, Serial No. 386,040

8 Claims. (Cl. 229-45) My present invention relates to an improvement in carton closures and deals particularly with a type of carton which may be closed and which may be locked in a closed position.

Various types of cartons have been produced which are provided with a hinged lid which is designed to provide a top for an open topped carton. Numerous types of locking means have been provided for holding the carton in a closed position. Such a locking means is necessary in view of the fact that cartons of the type in question are used for containing frozen vegetables and the like. During filling operation, the cartons are apt to become overloaded and during the closing of hinged top of the carton, the contents are not compressed to an extent where they fail to prevent the opening of the carton closure. If a carton of the type in question is overfilled, the contents exert an upward pressure upon the cover tending to open the same. If no lock is provided, tending to hold the cover closed, the upward pressure upon the cover caused by the contents of the package tend to swing the carton cover into partially open position. If cartons of the type in question are enclosed by a transparent covering or by a wax enclosure, the machines which wrap the transparent covering or wax paper about the carton do not function properly. Accordingly, a lock to hold the cartons closed is quite a desirable feature in the particular type of cartons disclosed.

An object of the present invention relates to an improvement in cartons having a generally rectangular bottom portion having an open top and in a cover having sides which telescope with the sides of the bottom portion.

Means are provided for locking the cover portion in closed position upon bottom position so that even if the carton is overloaded it will not open the lock.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a flap which is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the front wall of the bottom portion of the carton. This flap is provided with a pair of ears which are integral with the flap and which extend beyond the hinge line connecting the flap to the front panel of the carton. These ears are designfi to engage against abutments in the front wall of the cover portion of the carton so as to prevent the opening of the carton.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provisions of apertures in the front wall of the cover portion of the carton which are designed to accommodate the forwardly projecting ears on the bottom portion of the carton when the ears on the bottom portion of the carton extend through the apertures in the top portion of the carton, the two parts are securely locked together and cannot be disengaged without deforming the walls of the carton or deforming the ears.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the fact the contents of the package acts to resist the opening of the carton. The locking cars which hold the carton in closed position are integral with a flange which is connected to the upper edge of the front wall of the carton. The inward pivoting of this flange is limited by the contents within the package. if the forward part of the package being filled is empty the flange bearing the locking cars can pivot dons into the package and the carton may be readily ope Howeven if the package is properly filled and the contents fill the package to the forward end thereof the flange on which the locking ears are mounted is limited in its downward movement and the projecting ears are capable of preventing the re opening of the package.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly set forth in the following specification, as well as claims.

in the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure l is aperspective view of the package in closed position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same package in open position.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view vertically through the package, the position of the section being indicated by the line 33 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is also a vertical sectional view through the carton, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank of Which the carton is formed.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the blank of Figure 5 in partially folded condition.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the carton shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 in fully folded position.

The carton is shown at A in the various figures of the drawing. In the particular forms of construction illustrated, this carton is designed to provide an enclosure for frozen foods or similar material. However, dimensions of the carton may be changed to contain various other materials.

The carton A is shown as including a bottom panel 10 which is foldably connected along parallel fold lines 11 and 12 to a front wall 13 and a rear wall 14 respectively. The rear Wall 14 is hingedly connected along a fold line 15 to a top panel 16. The top panel 16 is foldably connected along a fold line 17 to a front wall panel 19. All of the fold lines 11, 12, 15 and 17, described are in substantially parallel relation.

The front wall panel 13 is hingedly connected along a fold line 18 to a locking flap 20. This locking flap is an important feature of the present invention and will be later described in more detail.

In the particular form of construction illustrated the front wall panel 13 is foldably connect d along the fold line 21 to an anchoring flap 22 and is foldahly connected along a second fold line 23 to an anchoring flap 24. The bottom panel 10 is foldably connected along the fold line 21 to a side wall panel 25 and is foldably connected along the fold line 23 to a second side Wall panel 26. An end of the side wall panels 25 is foldably connected along a fold line 27 which is an extension of fold line 12 to a flap 29. The opposite side wall 26 is foldably connected along a fold line 35 which is also an extension of fold line 12 to 'a flap 28.

The top wall panel 16 is connected along a portion of the fold line 21 to a side wall panel 31. The opposite side of the top wall panel 16 is connected along the fold line 23 to a side wall panel 32. The front Wall panel 19 which is connected to the top wall panel 16 is fo-ldably connected along an extension of the fold line 21 to a flap 33 and is connected along an extension of the fold line 23 to a flap 34.

An arcuate notch 35 is provided in the front wall panel 19 of the cover portion 16 for a purpose which will be later described in detail. The particular manner in folding the various side and end walls of the carton is optional and various combinations of folding flaps can be provided.

In the particular type of'construction illustrated, the

side wall panel 25 which is foldably connected to the bot,- tom panel 10, .is provided with a pair of diagonally extending fold lines 37 and 39 which emanate from the juncture of the fold lines 21 with fold lines 11 and 12 and extend across the side wall 25 in converging relation.

'In a similar manner, the diagonally extending fold'lines 40 and 41 extend horn the juncture of the fold line 23 with the fold lines 11 and 12 ,andextend across the side wall panel 26 in a diagonal relation converging toward one another. The side wall panel 31 of the top closure is also provided with a diagonal fold line 42 which extends from the juncture of the fold line 21 and the fold line 17 diagonally across the panel 31'. A similar fold line 43 extends diagonally across the panel 32 from the juncture of the fold lines 23 and 17.

' A pair of locking cars 44 and 45 are defined by U- shaped cut lines which have their ends terminating on the fold line 19 and in which the cut lines extend into panel 13. Thus the ears 44 and .45 extend into the front panel 13 and are integral with the flange 20. v

U-shaped cut lines 46 and 47 are also provided, extending into the front wall 19 of the closure. These cut lines 46 and 47 define apertures in the front wall of the closure through which the cars 44 and 45 of the flange 20 may extend. In other words, when the panel 19 is folded to right angular relationship with the top panel -16, the portions defined by the cut lines 46 and 47 remain in the plane of the top panel 16 and provide an aperture in the front wall of the closure into which the ears 44 and 45 respectively may extend.

Figure 6 of the drawings shows the first folding operation for a carton of the particular type illustrated. After this folding operation, it will be noted that the flaps 22 and 24 are folded to overlie portions of the front wall panel 13. Itwill also be noted that the major portion of the side walls 25 and 26 are folded to overlie the bottom panel 10. However, the triangular portions 50 and 51 which are outwardly of the fold lines 37 and 40, respectively, are folded back upon themselves to overlie adjoi'ning'portions of the side wall panels 25 and 26. It should also be noted that the triangular portions 52 and 53 which lie outwardly of the diagonal fold lines 39 and 41, respectively, are folded to overlie the surfaces of the side walls 25 and 26, respectively, to which they are secured. At the same time the flaps 29 and 28 which are foldably connected to the triangular portions 52 and 53,

wall 14 of the carton overlies the flaps 29 and 31 and angularly extended portions on 19, 31 and 32 respec-. tively. The flange 20 is hingedly connected by fold line 18 to the upper edge of the front wall panel 1 3.as is best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings; 7

When it is desiredto close the carton, the flange 20 must be folded inwardly to overlie the carton contents prior to the closing of the top closure of the carton. As flange 20 must be folded downwardly to overlie the carton contents, the projectionears 44 and 45 extend forwardly from the front wall 13 of the carton. When the carton is completely closed the top panel 16 bears against flange 20 and pivots the cars 44 and 45 into alignment therewith.

they prevent the cover from swinging into open position.

folded to overlie the cover porno n16 to whichthey are secured. At the same time the triangular portions 54 and 55 which are connected to these panels 31'and 32 along the diagonal fold lines 42 and 43'are folded upon the panels 31 and 32 to which they are secured. The flaps, 33 and 34 which are connected to the front panel 19 of the cover section are folded upon the cover section 19 as illustrated. A

Adhesive is applied to the triangular sections and 51 as well as to the triangular sections-54 and 55 or to the portions of the cartons to which they are to beadhered. Adhesive is also applied to the flaps 29 and 28 which are to be adhered to the rear wall panel 14. v

From the position'shown in Figure 6 of the drawings the carton blank is folded into the position shown in Figure 7. The front wall panel and flange 20 are folded along the fold line 11 to overlie the bottom portion 10 The flap 19 of the cover The lower edges of the slots form shoulder means against which the projecting cars 44 and 45 engage to resist opening of the carton.

If the carton'A is empty or partially empty, it is possible that the cover portion of the carton may, swing into open position by pivoting the flange 20 below a hori closing carton will form a detecting means which permits the opening of any cartons which are not completely filled. However, if the carton contents underlie the.

flange 20, the pivoting of this flange much below a horizontal position is prevented andthe forwardly projecting ears 44 and 45 definitely prevent the swinging of the cover portion into open position.

In Figure 4 of the drawings is disclosed a means of disengaging the lock illustrated. If inward pressure is applied against the front wall 13 of the carton, the'locks 44 and 45 may be disengaged from the apertures 46 and 47 in which they are engaged and the carton closure may swing into open position. However, unless the carton wall 13 is pressed inwardly the locks securely hold the cover portion in place during either the overwrapping operation of the carton or during the transportationand sale thereof.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my carton and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made withinthe scope of. the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. 1-

I claim:

1.- A carton lock for locking a carton cover to a carton body, the carton including a carton body, the carton body including a'bottom and rectangularly arranged side walls thereon, a flange foldably connected to the upper edge of one of said side walls,, and projecting means on said flange and foldable' therewithextending beyond the line offold connecting'the flange and said one side wall, and extending outwardly from said one side wall when said flange is folded inwardly, a carton cover hingedly connected to the side wall opposite said one side wall," the carton cover including a cover panel, a side wall panel depending from an edge thereof and designed to telescope over said one side wall of said carton body, means cooperable between said cover panel and said depending In this position cars 44 and 45 extend through the apertures 46 and 47 respectively which are provided between the toppanel 16 and the front wall 19 When these ears extend through the apertures 46 and 47 side wall panel for holding said depending panel in substantially right angular relation to said cover panel, said last named means holding said depending panel in close proximity to said one side wall of said carton body as these panels are telescoped with said one side wall panel and flange inwardly of said cover panel and said depending side wall panel, and shoulder means on said depending panel over which said projecting means may pass during this telescoping operation, said shoulder means engaging said projecting means when the carton body and carton cover are fully telescoped to resist opening of said carton.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and in which the means holding said depending panel and said one carton side wall in close proximity comprises a line of fold connecting the edge of the cover panel opposite the edge to which the depending panel is secured to the carton side wall opposite to said one carton side wall.

3. The structure described in claim 1 and in which the projecting means comprise spaced ears on said flange, and the shoulder means comprise spaced shoulders.

4. The structure described in claim 1 and in which said depending panel is apertured, the said shoulder means comprising one edge of said aperture.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 and in which the shoulder means is located closely adjacent to the line of connection between said cover panel and said depending panel.

6. A carton including a tray-shaped body having rectangularly arranged side walls and a bottom panel to which said side walls are secured, a flange hingedly secured to the upper edge of one side wall, projecting means integral with said flange and foldable therewith extending beyond the line of fold hingedly connecting said flange to said one wall, said projecting means projecting outwardly beyond the plane of said one side wall when said flange is folded inwardly therefrom, a cover panel hinged to the upper edge of the side wall opposite said one side wall, a cover wall connected to the edge of the cover panel opposite the edge connected to said opposite side wall, means securing said cover wall to said cover panel to extend at substantially right angles thereto, said cover wall extending in substantially parallel relation to said one side wall when said cover panel is in closed position, said one side wall and said flange being inwardly of said cover panel, and said cover Wall when the cover panel is in closed position, said cover wall being apertured to accommodate said projecting means, the engagement of said projecting means therein locking said cover panel in closed position.

7. The structure described in claim 6 and in which the projecting means comprises a plurality of spaced projecnons.

8. A carton including a tray-shaped body including a generally rectangular bottom panel, side walls extending upwardly from said bottom panel along the edges thereof, a flange hingedly secured to the upper edge of one side wall, a pair of spaced projecting tongues on said flange, said flange extending substantially parallel to said bottom panel and partially overlying the same said tongues extending outwardly beyond the said one wall, a generally rectangular cover panel having one edge hingedly connected to the side wall opposite said one side wall, connected cover side walls connected to the remaining edges of said cover panel and extending in substantially right angular relation thereto to lie parallel to and adjacent, the corresponding side walls of the body, the cover side Wall lying outwardly of said one side wall having apertures therethrough through which said tongues project.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 719,553 Baldwin Feb. 3, 1903 1,153,136 Rosenfeld Sept. 7, 1915 1,277,459 Myers Sept. 3, 1918 2,116,652 Adler May 10, 1938 2,217,503 Bergstein Oct. 8, 1940 2,544,565 Phillips Mar. 6, 1951 2,628,012 Goldsholl Feb. 10, 1953 2,731,191 Layne Ian. 17, 1956 

